Green Girl Bakeshop
Reishi Plant-Based Superfood Gelato
Good
Weight: 1/2 cup (118 mL) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 cup serving
Cost: $8.89 for 1 container
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA
Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Mushroom Theme Week and Day #2 of Chocolate and Umami Theme Week.
Today's Reishi* Chocolate Plant-Based Superfood Gelato was from Green Girl Bakeshop (San Leandro, CA).
The aroma profile for this gelato included: dark chocolate coconut milk ice cream with woodsy, bitter notes.
The bitter flavor was slightly less than in the aroma. (I'm assuming this tough-to-love flavor came from the reishi mushrooms and not the chocolate.) The rougher, albeit authentic, woody earth (Reishi) mushroom taste contrasted with the smoother, creamy, sweet dark chocolate, plant (coconut milk)-based gelato base.
I really enjoy umami flavors. The umami in this blend comes from the mushrooms (and nuts I added). (Both mushrooms and nuts contain glutamate/glutamic acid--a common amino acid that vegetable and animal-based umami rich foods share.) I topped this chocolate frozen dessert with some Organic almonds and sea salt, for a little extra umami flavor.
This bitter-sweet gelato flavor was interesting; but I'm not sure I'd recommend it to people just looking for a culinary highlight. However, it might excite novelty-seekers who are also interested in the possible health benefits of certain mushrooms.
Props to Green Girl Bakeshop for continuing to offer allergy-friendly gelato flavors with a short list of quality ingredients. (Today's Reishi Chocolate flavor contained/listed just 4 ingredients.)
Ingredients: Organic coconut milk, Organic maple syrup, Organic cacao powder, Organic reishi mushroom.
Allergen-related information: Contains coconut. "Made in a dedicated facility free from dairy, gluten, grains, peanuts, egg, and soy."
*Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) are currently a popular medicinal mushroom (often available in powder and/or extract form) in the U.S. Ganoderma are often used in traditional Chinese medicine. Their earthy, tree bark-like flavor makes them a bit less appealing as a culinary mushroom.
